Continue to invest, as has already been done in 2020 and 2021, to support the country’s economic recovery; introduce new hybrid trains into the fleet and improve rail services used daily, especially by commuters; bringing trains closer to ports and airports to promote the idea of intermodality, including in passenger transport. The conversation between Luigi Corradi, CEO of Trenitalia (the company of the FS group active in passenger transport) and Il Sole 24 Ore revolves around these concepts.
3 billion invested in the last two years
Corradi is in Milan (Central Station) for the presentation of Trenitalia’s 2021-2022 winter timetable. And Corradi’s thoughts turn to the near future: «The crisis hasn’t stopped us. Both in 2020, when the pandemic exploded, and in 2021 Trenitalia continued to invest: 1.5 billion euros a year, for a total of 3 billion. And in 2022 we plan to invest an additional 2 billion euros. Most of the resources – explains Corradi – are destined for regional transport, whose fleet is already renewed for about 50%. We are strongly engaged in the renewal of the rolling stock and in the purchase of new electric or hybrid trains, to replace the old obsolete and polluting trains. In the year 2022 we plan to put 105 new regional trains into circulation, including Rock, Pop and the new hybrid trains. Part of the new investments will also go to the plants and workshops where the maintenance of the trains takes place, which we want to make more and more efficient and sustainable, through the extensive use of energy produced from renewable sources. All this will have significant repercussions on the national industry, because Trenitalia’s new investments translate into new orders for companies working in the railway sector ».
The novelty of hybrid trains
Arousing curiosity are the new hybrid trains, already baptized Blues, that Hitachi Rail is manufacturing on behalf of Trenitalia in the Italian plants of Pistoia, Naples and Reggio Calabria. Hybrids are regional trains equipped with a diesel engine, pantograph for electrified lines and batteries, able to travel the last mile on non-electrified lines without using the diesel engine. In particular, the batteries can be used in the sections of the line approaching historic centers or during the stop in the station before departure, so as to limit polluting emissions and noise. For several days, the Trenitalia Blues have been carrying out test runs along the Adriatic line. They will debut in the Italian regions starting from 2022.
Ticket sales at + 30% on 2020
As for the year that is about to end, Corradi explains: «We are preparing to close 2021 with an increase in tickets sold (High speed + regional transport) of about 30% on the previous year. However, the new Omicron variant casts a shadow of uncertainty and fear, especially on the last part of the year, which is very important for us, because the month of December is traditionally a very favorable period for the train. For this reason we cannot yet say precisely what the company’s turnover in 2021 will be ».
In 2020, Trenitalia’s turnover amounted to 4 billion euros, compared to the 5.5 billion pre-Covid values. The net loss for the company was around 500 million euros. Last year, to partially mitigate the negative effects rained on the FS group due to the pandemic, were the contributions provided for in the service contracts. Corradi comments: «I would like to reiterate that all this has not prevented our company from continuing with investments». And future investments also include strengthening the connections between the railway network and airports. Corradi continues: «At the moment we already connect 17 Italian airports, including convoys that arrive directly in the terminals or with the integrated train + bus solution. But we want to grow further ».